The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-11-02
For The Mirror.
The Wreck.


cold, and the sea as smooth and bright as a
mirror. 1t was two days before Christmas.
in the afternoon. when around the Island
Leon in the Big Belt. lay anchored
awaiting the expected breeze and the
turning of the tide to continue their voyage,
fourteen ships OF different dimensions,
mostly all bound for some point near and
many expecting to pass Merry Christmas
on shore. But man proposes and God dis
poses, and so it came to pass. most terrible
in this instance. Every one seemed to be
in a merry mood-the cold, bracing air, the
smooth calm ocean seemed to fill every
heart with JOY and far and near could be
heard the sailors melody DER the waters.
At about p. N. a light breeze sprung up
from the westward and in a few moments
could be heard the noise of the cables in
every vessel as they hove their anchors.
| Slowly the breeze Increased and veered
around until it was blowing about an S-knOt
gale. although the sky was still bright and
clear. The wind had shifted from w. S.
| w. to n. n. +. Thus it stood at about
9:30. From this time the wind steadily i'll
creased until about 12 o'clock. when it blew
terrific gale. Clouds had been gathering
and the ocean and bright sky was turned
into mass of darkness and gloom, the
treacherOuS ocean from the mirrOr-like APP
pearance into boiling caldrOn. Far and
| near there was nothing seen or heard but
| the rolling waves and rushing breakers as
they threw their white caps of foam high
into the air. At II it was our watch below.
| The captain came on ut elk and after speak
| ing to the mate and looking around for a
short time, he gave orders to put the helm
up, intending to seek safe retreat from the
fury of the gale on the lee side of the island.
In the meantime. after bringing the vessel
round on the course. we had gone below and
turned in as we stood-that is to say. with
all our clothes on all ready for call, and
we were scarcely in our hunks when the ter
rible call came: ''All hands on deck! For
Heavens sake hurry up; we are right in
among the breakerS.'' And hardly were
those words uttered when with Il thunder
ing shock she struck on the rocks. What a
dismal picture when we arrived on deck!
A heavy sQuall was blowing with all its
| fury, snow and hailStOneS and to carry our
misery to its utmost breaker succeeding
| breaker was rolling over our frail craft. car
rying before them everything. All, boys,
at such a moment the StOutest heart will
bend and pray for help from that God whom
they never think of in moments of pleas
ure. With a great deal of trouble and dam
ger we managed to save one boat and hoist
it as high as our fOreyard where it was safe,
or nearly so. as long as the ship held tOgeth-
er. But excuse me. friends, I've no more
space. Suffice it to say that after this snow
storm the wind again calmed down, and by
noon the next day the sea was smooth and
the sky bright and clear. But what ter
rible difference! The merry joyful seamen,
where were they: The nOblelooking ships,
what had become of them? There. sur
rounding us lay fourteen vessels and from
all of those but eight men came on shore
alive! In one day we buried fOrty-three
men and of the eight that we're left three
were seriously hurt. 1t was terrible night,
and IN the overlooking of my heart l knelt
Oh that solitary rock and thanked God for
our preservation.
That Thou alone art God know.
Thy wisdom and Thy onders have 1 seen
The works of years to overthrow
Takes but a moment and what has been,
| Is passed and gone forever from this earth.
The gathering clouds that bring the dismal night,
The furious tempest the wild and stormy sea,
The glorious, golden sun, the stars in all their
pride
Are all obeying Thee.
Shall then the soul of man not trembe,
When every passing day Thy works seen?
Shall we live on and evermore dissemble?
No. take fro all that thus far has been;
Break down our pride and make us low and humble,
Pray guide our steps that we may n more stumble.
Oct. %, 1887. GEO. ANDERSON.
We are sure to get the better of fortune